Para-Cycling in Coal Island

Jerry Towey brings Para Cycling to Coalisland

Friday 1^st April 2016 in Gortgonis Track at 6.30pm

Cookstown Disability Forum ,Willowbank & The Island Wheelers are delighted to announce that Jerry Towey will be coming to Coalisland on Friday 1^st April to give disabled people an opportunity at our “try it out” event focusing on cycling including Tandem & Handbike Cycling.

Having lost his leg in a road accident near Foxford in Co Mayo 25years ago Jerry has been cycling since 2012. He has just found out he is on the selection panel to represent Ireland for the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janerio. Jerry is a driven man and fully expects to be in Rio this summer and we urge all disabled people who feel they might like to ‘give cycling a go’ to join us at Gortgonis track on Friday 1^st April 2016 at 6.00pm. Cookstown Disability Forum are working with Willowbank to ensure that disabled people have an opportunity to access activities many non-disabled people take for granted and we are delighted to be working in partnership with The Island Wheelers in welcoming Jerry to Gortgonis.

Cookstown Disabilty Forum and Willowbank are coming together with the Island Wheelers to facilitate this “try it out” event as part of the Island Wheelers 10 week “Cycling for Fun, Health and Fitness” programme funded by the Sports NI Lottery Funding and we would love to see as many people attend as possible. “We are particularly keen to encourage more disabled people into cycling but don’t underestimate the value of non-disabled cyclists and wannabe cyclists benefiting from the opportunity to learn from Jerry and appreciate that cycling can be for everyone” said Catherine McCrory.

Island Wheelers Cycling Club are proud to be involved in this initiative and feel that it is in keeping with their present programme aimed at increasing cycling participation for all. Their aim is to deliver initiatives to increase participation in cycling, both for able bodied and those with disabilities of all kinds through cycling within their own community. Their present programme is aimed at improving and developing core skills, fitness, self-esteem and self-confidence for beginners and young people. The club wants everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy the thrill, excitement and comradery of cycling. The club has had a long involvement in supporting the Eagles Special Olympics Club. On the night the club has invited Jake Gray of the Nicolas Roche Performance Team, Ireland’s leading junior cyclist who represented Ireland at the 2015 World Road Race Championships in Richmond, Virginia, to attend to participate in the evening.

Background information on Jerrys Racing Results

In 2014 Jerry finished 6^th in the general classification at a road race in Bilbao, Spain and later that year went back to Spain and finished 13^th in the time trail competition at the Para Cycling World Cup. In 2015 he finished 4^th in the Cologne Para Cycling Classic at another race in Bilbao and came 8^th at the European Cup in Prague.